Johns Hopkins University To Honor 7 With Honorary Degrees

BALTIMORE (AP) — Two women involved in a case about gay marriage that went to the Supreme Court are among the people receiving honorary degrees from Johns Hopkins University at commencement next month.

The school is honoring Edith Windsor, whose lawsuit led the Supreme Court last year to strike down a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that prevented legally married gay and lesbian couples from receiving a range of tax, health, pension and other federal benefits. The school is also honoring Windsor’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan.

The university will also honor Pulitzer Prize-winner Taylor Branch, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, former Lockheed Martin CEO Norman Augustine, Maryland Institute College of Art president Fred Lazarus and Pamela Flaherty, the former chair of the Johns Hopkins board of trustees.